Future Pathways

From FulbrightNYwiki

On Sunday, 3 December 2006, we held an Open Conference to discuss "Our Future Pathways" for the Greater New York Chapter of the Fulbright Association. About 40 alumni from the New York area attended. In keeping with the philosophy of the Open Conference technique, all of the topics were created by the attendees, then breakout sessions ensued in which action steps were planned. Below are the notes from the conference.

This page is a support wiki (you can add to it and edit by clicking "Edit") to continue our discussion begun on 3 December. We can swap ideas and build on each other's responses until we complete it to our satisfaction or transform it into something new.

One basic rule. Don't erase text. You may add all you want and we can have different folks at different times take care of the "garden" but no erasing another persons idea, thought or expression.

You can also download the notes from the conference here: Media:Future_pathways_actionsteps.rtf

Outreach to Youth Communities

• To high school students as well as smaller colleges & universities
  • via visual aids like posters in highly visible places like bulletin boards
  • via email listservs
  • via maintaining a speakers' bureau to visit local schools

• To at-risk, disadvantaged communities
  • via NY Cares, Habitat for Humanity and other such organizations

• Presence at Dept of Education Career Fairs (collaboration with NYC Dept of Education)

• Presence in virtual environments with global youth communities

Global e-Learning

• Global wifi nodes that enable access to disadvantaged communities (bridging the digital divide (even African communities - via connections that are facilitated by many nodes)
  • services provided: free internet access, college and high school level courses (ex people in bangalore teaching US students), truer cultural exchange
  • what kind of content are we offering to these virtual communal places that will attract and maintain communities (gaming modes?)
  • management? colloquium of universities - a network that manages itself
  • distribution happens through universities and educational institutions
• Fulbright ambassadors from specific countries connecting with each other and being catalysts (specific connections)
  • Fulbright role: establish network to represent idea to local (foreign) universities
  • culture, english, engineering exchanges
• Collaborations with other local universities

Networking

• Fulbright wiki
• Resume online
• Database of professions
  • (update info in FB Assoc website)
• Listserv
• Targeted social networking - around country, field of study, etc
  • business, physics, dance
  • mentoring
• Networking in host country
• Chapter provide grants for social events (DC model)
• More cultural/arts events - evening at opener and post-event dialogue
  • NY art exhibit
• Make list of visiting FB grantees available to US alums
  • CIES and IIE lists
• Mentoring program - US alums, mentors visiting FBers
  • point of contact upon arrival to HYC
  • match profession
  • informed
• NYC - mecca of finance and other industries
• Open Metro Intl programs to FB alums

Public Debates/ discussions re: international issues

• Debates/discussions sponsored by Fulbright
  • for fulbrighters
  • for public
  • for both
• Ask foreign fulbrighters what they would like to see discussed
• Where would these take place?

Service

• Collaborate with NYC service organizations (ie, NY Cares) to coordinate Fulbrighter service projects
• Domino effect
  • formal and informal cross-cultural connections
• Publicity
  • within universities
    • list of who has Fulbrights
    • seminar programs
    • massive information distribution
    • pull together university Fulbright advisers and "evangelists"
    • State Department
    • Fulbright "home"?

Challenges:

• Students unaware
• Projects don't fit in funding categories

International Social Research

• Provide a forum to discuss social issues that are within and between countries and the extent to which there could be collaboration between countries to address and provide information for social issues such as aging, international adoption, retirement, immigrants, refugees, sex trafficking, etc.

Capacity Building

• How do we find/create/identify the resources, i.e., money and people, infrastructure, to implement our great ideas?

Cross-cultural arts and exchange

• A NY chapter conference which would allow both performing artists and visual artists to exhibit their artwork (based on the Wash, DC conferences). Have it in NYC instead
  • is there a NY hub which would allow this to happen? A gallery space?
• Catch the mass imagination through a movie to capture the Fulbright experience
• A blog with Fulbrighters from other countries contributing to it, accessible to all. It would need someone to manage it (i.e., screen entries, etc)
• Tap into foreign Fulbrighters as possible collaborators or presenters